Helloooo my monkeys! I'm clearly weak-minded 'cause I was intending on not putting out the next Chapter until I got some more reviews (much as I love the amount of times this story's getting looked at I'd like it if it got reviewed a bit more!) but I really rather like this chapter so I couldn't help it. I makes me all googly inside XD! Mainly because I've managed to get progression on all of the pairings and actually started the team out on the mission.
A few people have said 'when am I gonna do more TemariShikamaru' and there's more here, though I'm trying to drag it out a bit. I find that pairing the easiest, as in the simplest to write cuz there's not as much angst hehe. I can't really imagine Shikamaru torturing himself about whether his feelings are right or not, so I think when things take off with those two it'll happen quickly XD.
Cheh: heheheyay glad you like the cute GaaraHogoness! and LOL re. 'wtf is he doing outside her room anyway?'. My guess is thinking naughty thoughts - in a very restrained and Neji-like fashion ;).
kimahrigirl: you didn't have to wait long cuz I'm saaad! I'm mighty chuffed Hogo is deemed worthy of Gaara (Hogo takes a bow before running off somewhere). TemariShikamaru in this chapter; dunno if I've made Shikamaru a lil OOC but I thought he could be quite funny if he felt like it!
Gaara-Kaibutsu: YAY I have an addict! Here is your medication teehee XD.
Enjoy!
"Neji's creeping around outside."
Hogo glanced up from where she had been seated writing up a mission statement for her return from Konoha. Feeling vaguely self-conscious in the face of Gaara's level stare, she pulled her dressing gown on over the top of her nightdress before continuing writing. "I know. He's concerned for his cousin - Kouki was being his normal slimy perverted self towards her." Gaara gave a grunt of amusement "Concerned. You women really are blinkered to what's around you aren't you?" he said scathingly, moving forward so that he was leant against the wall beside her desk, on the periphery of her vision. She gave him a brief look through her eyelashes and grinned, "I prefer to see more evidence of what you're alluding to before making assumptions."
There was a few moments of silence that was more or less companionable, although Hogo felt a disturbing tension tightening like a coil inside her stomach, silvery and razor-sharp. It was to be expected when she had only just returned, it would take a while to settle back into the bizarre situation that was their circumstance. She did not dare even call it a friendship. And yet... Gaara never came to find her. She always had to find him. And here he was, in her bedroom.
"That dog boy seemed to be having a hard time keeping his hands off you." he said finally, an undertone of acidity to his tone. Frowning in thought, she remembered Kiba putting his arm around her during their meeting with the Elders. As well as the strong sensation that she was being stared at. She shrugged and smiled, finishing off the mission statement hurriedly. She couldn't concentrate on it anyway now.
"Kiba's a friend. He saw that I was upset and was trying to make me feel better."
"And he thought covering you in his doggy scent would make you feel better?" Gaara purred maliciously as she stood up, taking a few casual paces to follow her across the room as she put the statement away. Hogo did not miss the possessiveness exuding from this gesture, and from his comment. "There's no need to be like that." she frowned, turning to face him "Kiba's an ally to us."
He let out a 'Hmmmm' that could hardly be described as an agreement or otherwise, his gaze intent upon hers.
"So how many men have you kissed Hogo?" he asked coolly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world for him to do so. She blinked and stared at him in disbelief, suddenly feeling incredibly nervous. Disinterest she could deal with, disdain also, and the thousand other myriad but subtle alterations to Gaara's attitude that she'd endured. But this was... First he comes into her room at night, something he had never bothered to do before, and now he was asking her questions like that?
"What?" she replied finally, her tongue suddenly feeling far too thick for her mouth. "You heard what I asked." he said nastily, taking a step forward. She found herself stepping backwards likewise and she saw a faint smile twitch his mouth. Clearly the fact that she was finally showing some fear of him, in this of all situations, was amusing to him. She was used to him being menacing and sometimes even plainly aggressive towards her, but never in this kind of context before. It didn't feel like there was enough air in the room for them suddenly. "But, I mean, why d'you need to know, what's it got to do with anything...?" she gabbled irritably, growing frustrated by her own nervousness. When he didn't even dignify this with a response but instead took another step forward, his smile growing as she tensed but refused to step back once more, she thought her heart was going to explode out of her mouth. What was he exactly intending to do if he got any closer? "Five ok, just five. Tsubatchin, Jun, Masashi, Kinoko and Yasuhiko. Not that its any of your business..."
"I already knew about Yasuhiko. I saw you." he interrupted in an almost idle fashion, his voice taking on a dreamy sing-song quality that made Hogo's scalp tingle. She glared at him now, eyes blazing. "You followed me!" she demanded, and he smiled even more, sarcastic. "You follow me everywhere I go, what difference does it make if I return the favour. I want you to do something for me."
Her brain was by now swimming with far too many conflicting feelings, annoyance, confusion, unease, so she just let out a frustrated sigh and gesticulated vaguely. "What, what d'you need?"
"I want you to show me what its like to kiss someone."
Every emotion and coherent thought dropped out of her brain like lead weights from the sky as she simply stared at him, dumbfounded. He wanted her to... Even as he stared at her with that unreadable expression she felt tears threatening to swell out of her eyes. Because the Monster had never had anyone touch him with anything resembling affection. In that second she would have given him anything he wanted, she was so appalled by the amount of sadness that coursed through her for him. "I... are you sure you really want me to...?" she began before the third and final step he took towards her brought him so close his chest was brushing hers. She was quite sure that her heart had stopped beating altogether.
"And who else could I possibly get to do this for me?" he asked rhetorically, even now his eyes guarded, telling her nothing. She took the slight without comment. She was fulfilling a function for Gaara, alleviating his curiousity. There was nothing more to it than that in his eyes.
Reaching out tensely, she pressed her palms against his chest in the meagre gap between them, almost surprised that there was no violent retribution for this action. He merely continued to look at her so intently that she felt like she was being consumed. They were about the same height, and rather than look in his eyes she focused on his nose, his chin, his mouth. Feeling the heat of his body with surprise, almost expecting him to be as cold as the sand he manipulated, she gingerly brought her hands up on to his shoulders, his collarbone, feeling her heart jolt at the contact of his bare skin against her fingertips.
The first kiss was tentative at best, her mouth barely skimming across his as her breathing became progressively more ragged through nerves. Cursing herself for being foolish, she slid her hands up his pale neck and into his hair before sealing their mouths together, nipping gently at his bottom lip. For a second or two she wondered if he was going to react at all before she felt his arms snaking round her waist, holding her with an almost crushing strength as he hesitantly began to return the kiss in turn. It swiftly became heated and more demanding until Hogo thought her lungs would burst from need for air. It felt like he was devouring her, his mouth tugging hotly and obsessively, wanting more. She finally dragged herself away, gasping for breath and trying to gather whatever scattered thoughts she might have left in her brain.
When she finally gathered both enough air in her lungs and courage, she looked up to see that Gaara's breathing was likewise irregular, his hair mussed and his eyes dazed. He shook his head and took a faltering step forward, as if intent on grabbing hold of her again. She didn't know what she was feeling in that second at the prospect of another of those burning kisses. But then he seemed to stop himself, taking a deep breath, collecting all of his control and composure back into himself, and turning to the door. She didn't dare say anything as he slid the door across and made to exit. He paused, glancing back at her briefly "We're going out into the desert tomorrow with the Konoha Shinobi. You will have to keep an eye on them. Get some sleep.". Once he had closed the door after him she allowed herself to sink onto the bed, heart still pounding savagely. That had been a mistake. That had been a very, very big, mistake.
Shikamaru had been awake for awhile, simply staring up and contemplating the ceiling as the first pale hints of dawn had filtered through the grate windows, when his door slid open with a loud thud. Only one person could open his door that rudely, and he resolutely closed his eyes before the footsteps crept across the room. Sure enough the familiar, sensually sharp voice said insistently,
"Rise and shine Shikamaru! It's time for you to defend the little ladies of the Sand!"
Just about managing to curb the grin that was threatening to curl his lips he rolled over as if in sleep, letting out soft groans "Oh Temari, yes, Temari! Your skin's so soft, ooooooh..."
There was a long pause in which he had to bite his tongue to stop his entire form shaking with laughter.
"Very funny teme. I know you're not asleep, get your ass up!"
He opened one jet black eye idly and gave her a lazy grin from his vantage point. She had her hands on her hips in feigned irritation, although he was quite sure he could detect the twitchings of a smile around her mouth that she was desperately trying to keep under control.
"I don't recall this being your home. Did you slip me some sake last night and take advantage or something?" he inquired, sitting up and stretching. She gave a grunt of ridicule, not looking the least perturbed by his semi-nakedness. But then of course she wasn't, this was Temari. The woman was a harpy.
"I could find five men twice your worth walking down one road in this village."
"Is that right?" he replied without really paying attention, scratching his neck sleepily. "The Jiyuujin welcome us due to Hogo's role with Gaara. As the former Kazekage's children, we are also given the utmost respect." she continued, idly flipping her fan and polishing one lacquered edge with her sleeve. "I'm sure you are." he continued in the same disinterested tone, looking around for his clothes.
Rolling her eyes, Temari picked up the neatly folded pile he had placed in the corner and threw it at him. "Be outside in five minutes. We're waking the rest, Team Leader Shikamaru." She said, adding the last derisively. "You better be careful Temari, if you keep being so charming, one of these days I'm going to fall in love with you." Shikamaru said dryly, raising one eyebrow at her sarcastically. She let out a deep chuckle at this, her eyes flashing before she closed the door behind her.
"You all know the situation. It is suspected that the rebel-nin have either a spy or a scout who is watching the village for those who leave. Fortunately our skills are not known to them, unlike the other Sand shinobi who they are familiar with. Nonetheless, if we can detect the spy before he is able to report numbers back to the missing-nin, we'll have an advantage. Furthermore we can make the spy give us a specific location for their base of operations."
"That makes far more sense than aimlessly wandering out into the desert." interrupted Kankarou, wincing to himself as he remembered the wounds he had received when they had tried that strategy.
"Precisely," continued Shikamaru, eyes returning to the assembled shinobi. The Konoha genin, Hogo, Temari, Kankarou and Gaara. Ten ninja against what would seem to be nearly eight times that number. "We'll split into two teams of five, the first including Gaara, Hogo, Neji, Hinata and Naruto. They'll assume we've amassed all of our most powerful members together in a scouting group. Once the first group has exited the village the second will have left over the back wall of the village and will skirt around searching for the spy. Kiba's sense of smell should be useful in tracking him."
"Seems rather simplistic to me." murmured Temari, only for Shikamaru to give her an annoyed look "Without knowing where precisely to look for the spy all we can do is hope to catch them unawares with a secondary group." She shrugged "All I'm saying is that they'll be suspicious as to why only half of the ninja who have been sent to help us are going out."
"Which is why we're going to make it very loudly and publically known that we're looking at maps of the desert to try and assess where their camp may be." Shikamaru countered with a slight smile. Naruto looked confused for a second, trying to work this out in his head. "But Shikamaru, you said that you were going to be looking for the spy..."
Kiba rolled his eyes and amiably punched Naruto in the back of the head, sending him head over heels to the floor. "That's what we'll actually be doing dobe. But the spy will think we're safely tucked in the village looking through musty maps." he snorted, shaking his head at Naruto's denseness. "I get that now! No need to hit!" yelled Naruto indignantly, rubbing the back of his head and glowering at Kiba. Kiba gave a grunt of amusement and rolled his eyes at Hogo. Hogo smiled nervously at him, not quite able to shake Gaara's words of last night from her. But then she couldn't shake much of last night from her mind. She was praying her distraction did not show in her demeanour.
"Neji, you'll be in the charge of the first team. Try and avoid engaging with the missing-nin before making contact with us." Neji gave a small smirk, having expected to be made team leader. Hinata's presence on his team was a blessing - he would be able to keep an eye on her. Naruto and Hogo would both be useful, and as for Gaara... He looked thoughtfully across at the pale shinobi who seemed to be concentrating very hard on boring a hole into the floor in front of his feet, his jaw clenched. Well, Neji could only hope that Hogo would be able to control him. His curiousity, not very often picqued by much, had been aroused by Gaara's entering Hogo's bedroom. It was certainly not something that would have been permitted if Hogo's father was in the house, he was sure of that much. As for her mother, the mother that had never been mentioned and for that very fact seemed achingly present in the empty rooms of their house, he knew nothing.
"Now, it's very important that no one, absolutely no one, knows what the second team is actually doing. I'm afraid that includes the rest of your clan Hogo-san." Shikamaru said. She nodded her understanding, not entirely pleased about holding back from her family but seeing the necessity. The first team began collecting up their weapons and necessities at Neji's instruction as he leapt onto the roof of the building to ascertain a path across the desert, Gaara idly staring into the distance. His weapon was already out in the desert waiting for him and as for food, medical kit... Hogo always took care of that. A screen door slid open into the main courtyard and Ryoushin and Kouki entered, watching the proceedings. "Are you adequately prepared?" asked Ryoushin of Shikamaru, who swiftly informed him of both team's plans. Meanwhile Kouki slipped away from beside his father and moved over to Hinata, grinning in amusement as she started at his presence, blushing fiercely.
"Kkkouki-dono, you startled me..." she stammered, not looking him in the eye as she hastily put more kunai in her pack. "Oh do forgive me, I merely wanted to make sure you had everything you needed." he chuckled softly, dipping his head lower so that only she could hear him. His proximity was making her incredibly nervous, as was the intimate tone of his voice. "Yes I'm fine thank you Kouki-dono. You're too kind. I hope we'll be able to help your village." she murmured sweetly, risking a glance up at him and smiling. "What a lovely comment, and said so charmingly! No one could doubt that you're from a great family." he exclaimed lightly, almost absentmindedly taking a lock of her lilac hair and tucking it behind her ear. She really was quite adorably beautiful, with those huge eyes and milky skin, but for all that she carried herself as if she prayed no one would notice her. Her face was practically on fire at this point from embarassment. "And I'm sure such a well-brought up lady would not refuse a good luck kiss before her mission?" he continued, a devastating smile crossing his handsome face.
Hinata was totally dumbstruck. She had never been so much as flirted with, let alone so openly propositioned! She found her mouth opening and closing with no actual words coming to her aid, floundering in total shock as his smile grew more and more amused. The need for a response was swiftly taken out of her hands when he gently turned her face with one finger to her chin, his mouth descending upon hers.
There was the soft noise of skillful feet meeting the ground from a great height and Hinata turned to see Neji standing next to her, his long dark hair settling behind him and his eyes frosty. "Neji-nii-san..." she began, seeing that icy look was locked upon Kouki who continued to look belligerently amused by it all. "Are you prepared for our expedition Hinata-sama?" he said breezily, his calculating gaze not moving from Kouki. "Yes..." she said, lowering her face. She was amazed when she felt his hand firmly on her shoulder, drawing her behind him. "I apologise Kouki. Whatever you have to say to Hinata-sama will have to wait. Or preferably, be discarded altogether." he said and Hinata shuddered, recognising that chilling tone. Kouki's eyes narrowed at the lack of honorific in Neji's address but his smile remained thinly in place. "Of course. Another time, Hina-chan." he said over Neji's shoulder light-heartedly before turning on his heel and departing.
Hinata looked at her cousin's back worriedly, seeing how tense with anger he was, seeing his hands clenched against restrained violence. "Hina-chan... Who does that Sand scum think he is?" he growled.
"Neji-nii-san, don't let it concern you..." She began nervously, only for him to spin on his heel and face her. She flinched slightly under his unrelenting gaze but continued "I wasn't going to let him... I can take care of myself." she finished finally, embarassed to be saying such things to her severe, overwhelming cousin. Why did she feel the need to tell him that she had no intention of letting Kouki kiss her?
"Hinata-sama." he said briskly, making her snap upright. She found it mortifying how she always felt ridiculously girlish and weak in his presence, even now after all her training. He stepped closer confidentially, his eyes intent on her face. She prayed to every deity she could think of that she wasn't blushing yet again. This was even more unnerving than when Kouki had been close to her. "I don't want you out of my sight the entire time we are in this country. Not just on missions. I don't trust him, and I promised your father I would protect you."
Hinata bit her lip and looked at the floor once more, sadness overtaking every other sensation. Still they thought of her as this stupid little girl that got in the way, that needed looking after. She doubted Neji, strong and ruthless Neji with all his noble intentions, had a clue how crushed he had made her feel with those words. Biting her lip but nonetheless still avoiding his gaze, she planted her feet firmly and managed to mumble 'Nn... Neji-nii-san. You don't need to protect me."
His eyes widened as he stared at the top of her head, the best he could manage considering how fixedly she was staring at the floor. Hinata was actually arguing with him? He considered the resolute set of her jaw, her tense posture and realisation hit him like a blow to the stomach. He had offended her. His arrogant words of before resonated back to him, all that talk of her weakness, of her fate as an eternal loser. She didn't realise that the words he spoke now were not the same. To her they were simply a more polite version of all he had said to her in that fight where she had given her all, despite knowing it would not be enough. He bit his tongue against all that he would like to tell her those words truly meant.
"I... I've been training very hard. I don't want you to think of me as a burden." she continued into his stunned silence, taking it for scorn. His heart clenched as he saw that her lip was trembling. Had he hurt her that much?
He wanted to tuck her hair back from her face as that bastard Kouki had done and make her look at him. HE wanted the opportunity to...
Deadlocking whatever conclusion that thought was going towards, he said sharply "Hinata-sama." She tensed, still refusing to look at him, and he allowed himself the tiny indulgence of tipping her chin up so that she would look at him. Her beautiful eyes widened as their eyes met.
"I am the leader of this team, even if you are my superior. If you don't want me to see you as a burden, prove yourself."
She swallowed convulsively, unable to tear her gaze from his, seemingly locked there. He knew with the skill of his Byakugan as her eyes ran across his face, skittering and hesitant, that she was looking for cruelty in this statement, disdain. She would find none. Her jaw set and determination and something almost like hope settled on her face, a shy smile curling the corners of her mouth as she nodded. He wanted to keep the memory of that expression on her face for an eternity. "Hai Neji-nii san."
He smiled back, gently releasing her chin and straightening reluctantly, turning to the other members of their team.
"Is the First Team prepared?" he called, watching Naruto bounce from one foot to the other in excitement. "Mission mission mission! Hinata, this is gonna be great! We'll definately help Suna!" "Hai Naruto-kun." she said happily, giggling to herself at his antics.
"Let's just get on with it." said Gaara darkly, already marching forwards through the door Ryoushin and Kouki had entered. Neji did not miss the look of distress on Hogo's face that she quickly concealed before nodding to Neji, letting him take the lead. He likewise nodded to Shikamaru, confirming the time that they would reconvene if nothing conclusive happened before following after the stalking sillohuette of Gaara.
It had been a mistake, though for none of the reasons Hogo suspected.
He had thought that he could get over this progressively consuming preoccupation, this gut-wrenching obsession, if he could have a taste of her. She needn't even know that it was her, only her, he was interested in kissing, in holding. Let her think the interest was academic if it made it easier for her to endure it. He had, all the same, thought that he could get rid of it.
Now all he wanted was some more of what he had no chance of getting. That mouth, that skin. Hogo Jiyuujin. The name bounced around inside his head either as a mantra or a echoing curse, he wasn't quite sure. Because there was no good it could do him. He knew that as well as he knew anything.
No one had ever dedicated so much time to him, had shown such interest in him as anything resembling a person. When she looked at him he didn't have a clue what she saw, but it was nothing like that which the other villagers recoiled away from. Every instance of kindness that he had never asked for, sweet sincerity that he had coolly brushed aside, astonished him and shook him to a core he had thought rendered unbreakable. He had never expected loyalty from anyone and she gave it without any reward.
And that was why she had offered up a kiss to him as soon as he had asked for it. Loyal and fierce and so unshakeably good that it would have appalled him if he wasn't so awe-struck by it. Yes she was all of these things, but she was clearly entirely clueless if she couldn't see even behind his feigned indifference that he had never wanted anything more than her in his life. She made him see that he wasn't alone any more.
But he wasn't a fool, and just as he had never expected loyalty from her, he expected nothing else. It was better that she was that clueless, that oblivious. He did not want to see the expression that would greet him if she did realise it. He didn't think he would be able to stand it. Better to touch her in violence than to attempt anything softer, and have her recoil in revulsion.
He should have stuck with what he had, brief instances when her vulnerability gave him an approximation of what he needed. Rare they might have been, because she was far stronger than he would ever dare tell her, but those moments had simply fuelled his confused feelings instead of placating them. When he had knocked her unconscious in one of their more impromptu sparring matches (prompted by her furious declaration of 'FINE you smug bastard! I can hurt you in ways you can't even imagine!') he had carried her back through the streets of Suna with a gentleness that stunned Kankarou, who had been waiting for him at his room.
"The Elders are concerned that Hogo is actually worsening your condition. I mean, she does get you rather aggravated, you two end up fighting in the streets, you get frustrated when she beats you..." Kankarou had said as Gaara had settled her down on the bed he never used. He had taken in every inch of her with the intent of imprinting it in his brain, looking at his leisure as he never could have while she was awake. He sifted his hands through her thick hair, probing her scalp to look for the large bump where her head had met the wall.
"Surely that shows she's more than fulfilling her task. What does it matter if I become agitated if she can still beat me?" he had replied to Kankarou's words, reluctantly removing his hand from her as he became conscious of his gaze. "Well she clearly can't beat you all the time otherwise she wouldn't be unconscious right now. Besides... Meirou Jiyuujin is still missing." Kankarou said sceptically as Gaara rose from the bed. "Do you trust her?" he continued when Gaara failed to respond.
"Tell the Elders that if they choose to remove Hogo from her position I will be... disappointed." he finally replied, allowing the full weight of these words to sink into his tone.
Because she was his. He would take what he could have and would fume inside his own skin as he desired all the rest, but he would not have her taken away. And that one taste of her, showing him exactly what he desired, was more than likely to undo him altogether.
(Grins like a total moron) Hope you liked it, RnR, GO OOOOOOOON! It's not hard and it'll leave you feeling all shiny inside! XXX